Trap



May 1, 1928. 1,668,367

A. J. HENTSCHEL TRAP Filed July 20, 1925 5 SibeeblS-Sheet 2 May l, 1928.

V A. J. HENTSCHEL Filed Juiy 2o, 1925 'rin Passed i May 1, reas.

UNITED [STATES PATENT OFFICE.

TRAP.

Application filed July 20, 1825. Serial No. 44,715.

This invention relates to a trap particularly designed for catching rats or mice. It is a primary object and purpose of the presont invention to provide a trap wherein rodents may be caught, the trap being self setting so that after one is caught it is immediately returned to set position and ready for the next. Coupled with the trap is a cage to which the rats or mice caught may go, equipped with a door which prevents their return to the trap.

The construction for effectively attaining these ends is fully described in the following description and shown in the accompanying drawings, in which,

Fig. l is a longitudinal section through they assembled trap and cage.

Fig. 2 is a fragmentary plan of the trap.

Fig. 3 is a vertical section through the upper portion'of the trap showing the same in set position. n

Fig. -4 is a fragmentary perspective view with parts broken away and in section to disclose the mechanism, showing the trap mechanism whereby the platforms are held in horizontal position until pressure is applied to the free end of one of said platforms. i

Fig. v5 is a transverse vertical section through the construction shown in Fig. 4 showing the position of the parts after the trap has been sprung or tripped.

Fig. 6 is a like view illustrating the 'parts in set position, and

Fig. 7 is a fragmentary horizontal section through the construction shown in Fig. 6.

Like reference characters refer to like parts in the different figures of the drawings.

In the construction of the trap an enclosure is provided having a bottom l, vertical spaced apart ends 2 and 3 and sides 4. Above the upper edges of the sides 4 housings are located each including a vertical inner side 5, turned outwardly at their lower edges to provide a bottom 6 and then turned upwardlyk to make the outer side 7 paralleling the inner side 5. rEhe-se sides 7 of the housings at their upper edges are formed with inturned flanges 8 connected in any suitable manner with the inner sides 5. In practice the inner sides 5 may be turned outwardly and continued over the housing` thus made, as indicated at 9 in Fig. 2, and may thence be turned downwardly `and connected with the base Tl so as to make relatively heavy when free to ldo so.

and substantial structure which will not overturn readily.

At the upper edge of the front end 2 a platform l0 is pivotally mounted to turn on a horizontal axis on the rod 11 located between t-he inner sides 5 of the two housings described. This platform is weighted at its outer end, as indicated at l2, so that nor mally it will occupy a horizontal position The downward movement of the inner end of the platformA is limited by a stop rod 13, shown in Figs. l and 3. This platform in horizontal position extends better than half of the distance between the ends 2 and 3.

A second shorter platform 14 is located adjacent the opposite end of the structure and is pivotally mounted on the rod l5 to turn on a horizontal axis, being likewise weighted at 16 at yits outer end so that Lit will normally occupy an upper horizontal position. The downward movement of the inner end of the platform is likewise stopped by a rod 17. Each of the platforms l0 and 14 are equipped with eyes 18 with which hooks 19 mounted on the ends2 and 3 may be detachably engaged so that the platforms may be held in horizontal position. rThis is to permit the rodents to gain access to the bait 2O which is supported adjacent the outer end of the second platform 14, whereby the rat-s or mice may for a time be permitted to reach the bait and become familiar with thepath to such bait, after which the hooks 19 may be released,iwhere upon the trap will be in working order. A short ladder 2l is shown leading to the platform l0 upy which the rats or mice may travel toward the bait. The space between the upper edges of the ends 2 and 3 and the pivotal rods l1 and l5 is covered byinctal plates 22 so that rats or mice may not be able to scale the ends and 3 and force the platforms upwardly at their outer ends and thus escape.

T he platform 14 is formed at its side edges with depending ianges against which, when in its horizontal position, loops 23 formed of wi re bear.; the loops being formed between the ends of rock shafts 24 pivotally mounted to turn von a vertical axis between the bottoms 6 and flanges 8 of the said housings described. Each of the loops 23 at one end is continued upwardly to make the upper section of the rock shaft 24 and at the other @Ml extended horizontally for a distance titl and then down vardly ina-king an olli-set section in which an inclined part 25` is made, the wire or rod at the lower end oit the section being turned horizontally as indicated at QG tor a distance and then turned downwartglly to pass through the hottom tn making the lower section 24a ot the rock shattwhich is in vertical alignment with the upper section 24. A light coiled lspring 2T is attached to the loop 23 at one cnd and to the outer vertical `side ot the housing at its opposite cndr` the tendency of which to draw thc roch shaft to the position shown in Figs. 4 and G in which position the spring is substantially without tension.

,t member 2S ol sheet metal and oit channel form is pivotally mounted at its upper end on a rod 29 passing through ears 30 struclt i'roin the inner side 5 ot each housing. A rod or shaft 3l extends horizontally hetween the flanges of this member adjacent the lower end thereolz on which an irregularly-shapcd supporting member of wire is mounted. One endot this member is formed with an eye to pass around the rod 3l cX- tending vertically there'lroni tor a short distance. as indicated at 32. and then upwardly and inwardly at an incline, as indicated at -lL to underneath the inni-r end ol the plat- Vl`orin lt). being lient back at 34 and thence (.fztcntlcil inwardly and sliglitly upwardly :it 3:3, until within the plane ot the member tt where-.upon it is turned horizontally, inalting the section Siti lying within and parallel to thc web ot said member 2S, thence turned to the rear `l'or a short d.' stance7 as indicated at, lli', and then downwardly to malte the terminal vertical section 3S, which at its lower cud to ned with anI eye through which the rod ill pas-es. The llanges adjacent; the inner end ot the platform 10 are cut away and the plattorm at this ond, when in its horizcntal position, hears against the iigpcr sidesy ot' the sections 35 ol' the two supporting members one located at each side or the platform7 as is obvious.

A second horizontal rod 39 is located hetween the tianges oft tli-c nieinbcr Q8 a short: distance alii/wc the rod 3l. A bail having spacml apart sides 4t) and an integral cross connecting member 4l is pivotally' mounted on the rod 3S), the end of Yone oit' the arms alti being continued around the rod 39 and thence downwardly to the edge ot one ot tho ilangrs of the member 28 and then turned in varflly as indicator at 40, bearing against the edge of said flange and serving as a stop to liniit the downward movement ot' the outer Jiree end ot' the hail. A torsion spring 42 is wonnd around the rod 3l one end thereof bacl: ot the upper rod 39and the other cnil engaging with the part 38 previously ile-scribed, the tendency ol which is to move the supportii'ig inen'ibcrs tor the platform l0 inwardly so as to bring the saine under the edges ot said platilorin, It is evident that the inner sides 5 oit the housings and thatI the web oli` the channel member v2S must be provided with openings for the tree passage olf the loops 25 and the inwardly projecting portions olf the plattorin supporting ineinliers.

in operation with the platforms in horizontal position and with the parts of the mechanism as shown in Fig. 4, the rat'or mouse may 4ravcrse the platform l0, the saine 'ncing supported by the sections 35 ot the supporting members and the platitorm will not move from its horizontal position until the inner end ot-the second platform reached. i Then this occurs the weight of the rat on the inner end of the platform 14 depr es the saine until its upper side is below the plane ol the loops Prior to that time by reason ot the lock inade by the cross rod 4l oit the hail carried on rod 39 engaging aga-inst the vertical section 25 of the rock shaft Q4 at the lower end of the Vincline 25 the inw'ardl irofectine iortions ol the. supporting member lor the platiforin i are held against movement. their the loops 23 are thus released the thrusti'of the cross i'iienibers 4l ot the hails against the portion 25a cauf-cs the incniber swinging on thc pivot portions 24 and 24 to move to the position shown in Fie'. 5 which permits the hails to rise over the portions 225iL and the supports to swing inward as shown in this ligure, releasing the platliorn'l. As soon as the 'nails assume the upturned position sli-own in TEig. they no longer have a tendency to thrust against the niemlier 25 and the spring 27 tends to turn this member together with the loop 23 to normal position shown in Fig. 6 and the hinged nicn'ilier returns by gravity to its normal position` the hails then drolriping into position under thc portion 2W. lfilhcn the animal has dropped rec ol the platforms they both return to upper position7 the platform 10 springing the supports` 35 inward as it passes them and the platform i4 with its downturned tlanges coming into position hetween the loops 23 whereat the trap is again sot tor operation. i

A tubular outlet i3 ot an)`- desired ina.- tcrial and ot any desired length may be made in an end ot the tra]L structure near its lower end so that the rats or mice may trarerse the saine to the cage 44 passing from the outlet 43 through an ent-rance member 45, the inner end ot which is normally kclosed by a door 46 pivotally suspended from its upper end. A tilting member 47 pivotally mounted between its ends at 48 is weighted at 49 at its outer end andsuitably connected by means o'l the member 50 with the door 4G so as to norii'ially hold the door closed; but when the rat reaches saidtilting member tl t) lli il l) ineens? Y and turns it b y its weight to the position shown in Fig. l the door i6 is opened permitting entrance to the cage 4.4i. The specific details of this arrangement are of no importante in the present application, not being particularly concerned with the trap Vinvention set forth in the remaining figures of the drawings.

In some cases it may be desirable to drown the rats as soon as they are caught and to accomplish this the structure may be slightly modified by omitting the bottomy 1 of the enclosure and arranging the trap over a barrel or other receptacle of water so` that the rats, after dropping through the trap doors, will fall directly into the water and drown.

In smaller and lighter structures designed to catch mice or other small animals it is not necessary to provide a locking and retaining device at each side of the structure but the trap doors or platforms may be held and tripped at one side only, f

The construction described is particularly eflicient for the purpose for which it is designed and has so proved in practice. By it rats and mice may be caught, the trap resetting itself automatically. The invention is defined in the appended claims and is to be considered as comprehensive of all forms of structure coming wit-hin their scope.

f claim:

l. A trap comprising an enclosure having an open upper end, a main platform extending inwardly from one side of the enclosure at said upper end, a trip j )lat-form extending inwardly from the opposite side of the en* closure in alignment with the main platform, both platforms being pivotally mounted between their ends on horizontal axes, a rock shaft mounted vertically at each side of the trip platform and formed with a horizontally extending loop adapted to bear against a side of the trip platform, supporting members pivotally mounted at their lower ends and extending upwardly and having portions extending under the inner end of the main platform, means disposed between the roel; shafts and said supporting members and .holding the supporting members against movement so long as said loops are engaged against the sides of the trip 'plat-form, said rock shaft being freed for movement and the supporting members thereby released on depression of the. inner end of the trip platform, substantially as described.

2. A trap comprising two tiltable plat.

forms,themovable edges of which are arranged in juxtaposition, a movable supporting member extending under the first platform, a trigger member engaging a side of the second platform, and a locking member interposed between the said supporting member and the trigger member which prevents movement of the supporting member iiile the trigger member engages the second platform but which is released to permit movement of the supporting member to release the first platform when the trigger member is released by depression of the second platform.

It trap comprising two tiltable platforms having their swinging edges arranged in juxtaposition, a hinged member adjacentV the first platform, a supporting extension on said hinged member extending under said first platform, a trigger member engaging the second platform and released by depression thereof, and a locking member interposed between said hinged member and said trigger member and arranged to retain the supporting extension under the first platform while the trigger is engaged by the second platform and to release the hinged member whereby its supporting extension will move from under and release the first platform when the trigger member is released by depression of the second platform.

4;. A trap comprisii'ig two tiltable platforms having their swinging edges ar anged in juxtaposition, a hinged member adjacent the first platform, a supporting extension movably mounted on said hinged member eX- tending under said first platform, a trigger member engaging the second platform and released by depression thereof, and a lookingmember interposed between said hinged member and said trigger member and arranged to retain the supporting extension under the lirst platform while the trigger is engaged by the second platform and to release the hinged member whereby its supporting extension will move from under and release the lirst platform when the trigger memberis released by depression of the second platform.

ln testimony whereof I aiiix n y signature.

ANDREW J. HENTSCHEL. 

